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Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

Michael JacksonFrank Micelotta/Stringer / Getty Images
Pop star of the 1980s, Michael Jackson wowed audiences with eye-popping dance moves, notably one called the “moonwalk.” Michael displayed an amazing talent for rhythm and dance at a very young age.

Birth:
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in the city of Gary, Indiana. He was the seventh of nine children born to Joseph Walter and Katherine Esther. His brothers were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy, with sisters Rebbie, Janet and La-Toya. His father was a steel mill employee who enjoyed performing in an R&B band with his brother Luther. Jackson’s mother, a devout Jehovah’s Witness, raised him as a Jehovah’s Witness as well.

The Jackson 5:
Michael began his musical career at the early age of 5. He and his brother Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers as backup musicians, joining brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Randy. At age 8, Michael and Jermaine began singing lead vocals, and the group changed their name to the Jackson 5.

The Jackson 5 recored several songs and eventually signed with Motown Records in 1968. Michael quickly emerged as the main attraction and lead singer of the group. The group scored several top 40 hits, including the top 5 disco single “Dancing Machine” and the top 20 hit “I Am Love.” However, the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.
Budding Superstar:
With a solo contract with Epic Records, Michael began pursuing ventures on his own. In 1977, he starred in the film version of “Wizard of Oz”, the hit musical “The Wiz.” In 1979, Michael released his unusually successful album, “Off the Wall.” The popular album included the hit singles “Rock With You” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” It eventually sold 10 million copies.

Jackson’s next album, Thriller, was also a huge success, shooting seven Top 10 singles up the charts. The videos that accompanied these songs helped establish Michael’s dominance of MTV, and his reputation as an incredible dancer.
Going Solo:
In 1984, at the last concert of the Jackson’s Victory Tour, Michael announced that he was leaving the group and going solo. In 1987, he released his third solo album, “Bad.” Michael wrote an autobiography in 1988, revealing details of his childhood and his career. He was named “Artist Of The Decade” for the success of his previous albums.

In 1991, Michael signed with Sony Music and released his fourth album, “Dangerous.” He also formed the “Heal the World Foundation” to aid in the lives of unfortunate children around the world.
Marriage and Fatherhood:
In 1994, Michael married Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley. The marriage was short-lived, as the couple divorced in 1996. Michael then married his second wife, Debbie Rowe, who was a nurse that Michael met while treating his skin pigment disorder. Their first child, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., was born in 1997. Their daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, was born in 1998. The couple divorced in 1999.

Jackson’s third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, was born in 2002. The mother’s identity was not released by Jackson.
The Moonwalk:
Many people contribute much of Michael’s ultimate success to his amazing ability to dance. In 1983, Jackson performed live on a Motown television special, debuting his signature dance move, the moonwalk. When he did the moonwalk, it looked like he was doing something humans should not be able to do. The Motown special will always be remembered as a magic moment in the history of music entertainment, as the Moonwalk set Michael apart in the realm of superstardom.
Death of an Icon:
Michael’s thrilling career ended tragically before the start of a much-anticipated comeback tour. The King of Pop and former Jackson 5 singer died on June 25, 2009, after suffering cardiac arrest.

Patrick Swayze (1952-2009)

Patrick SwayzeMJ Kim / Getty Images
Patrick Swayze was a well-known American dancer and actor. He starred as a dance instructor in the popular movie Dirty Dancing.

Patrick Swayze was born in 1952 in Houston. His father was a chemical plant engineer and his mother was a dancer and choreographer. In high school, Patrick was a talented football player as well as a gymnast, earning him an athletic scholarship to college. Patrick focused his talents on dancing at a young age. He attended several ballet schools, including the Joffrey Ballet. He was the principal dancer with the Eliot Feld company. He moved to new york to start his career, but an old football injury halted his plans. He then turned to acting.

Career:

Patrick got his first acting break in the Broadway production of Grease. He then moved to Hollywood and played several supporting roles in television sitcoms and made-for-television movies. Patrick gained fame in 1987 with his starring role with Jennifer Grey in the sleeper hit Dirty Dancing. Although the dancing role established Patrick as a Hollywood heartthrob, the dancing proved too much for his body and ended his dancing career. He continued to accept movie roles, some bad and some good. He struck gold again in 1990 when he starred opposite Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg in the hit movie Ghost.

Life Today:

Associated with the Catholic church, Patrick was known to have deep spiritual beliefs. He was also known to have been associated with Baptism, Buddhism, and Scientology. He battled alcoholism for a time, but was able to beat it. He married Lisa Niemi in 1975. The couple had no children.

Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2008. He lost his battle with the disease on September 14, 2009, at the age of 57.

Mikhail Baryshnikov (1948-present)

Mikhail BarishnikovScott Wintrow / Getty Images
Known as the best living male ballet dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov is a famous Russian dancer. He has had roles in film, as he starred in the last season of Sex and the City.


Mikhail Nikolaevitch Baryshnikov was born on January 27, 1948 in Riga, USSR. He bagan studying ballet in 1960, at the age of 12. In 1964 he entered the Vaganova School to further his ballet studies. He soon began winning top honors and leading roles in major ballets. Upon seeing him dance in the Soviet Union, Clive Barnes, a New York Times critic, called him the most perfect dancer he had ever seen.


Leaving Russia:

Because the Soviet dance world held fast to 19th century traditions and shunned creativity, Baryshnikov decided to move west. He first defected to Canada, then made his way to the United States. During his first two years away from Russia, he danced for 13 different choreographers.

New York City Ballet:

In 1978, Baryshnikov became a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, under the direction of George Balanchine. His distinctive style won him many leading roles, although Balanchine never created a new work for him. In 1980, he changed his role from performer to director, becoming Artistic Director of the American Ballet Theatre.

Film Career:

Baryshnikov began dancing for American television in 1976. In 1977, CBS brought his production of the Nutcracker at the American Ballet Theatre to television. The famous production remains the most popular and most often shown television production of the Nutcracker Ballet. The DVD of the performance is a bestseller during the holidays. It is also one of only two versions of “The Nutcracker” to be nominated for an Emmy Award.He also portrayed a famous Russian ballet dancer in the 1977 film The Turning Point, receiving an Oscar nomination. He later starred in the 1985 film White Nights, and Sex and the City.

Family Life:

Baryshnikov has three children with former ballerina Lisa Rinehart, although they remain unmarried. He also has a daughter from a former relationship with actress Jessica Lang

Sammy Davis, Jr, (1925-1990)

Sammy Davis, JrPatrick Riviere / Getty Images
An American dancer, Sammy Davis, Jr. was an entertainer remembered mostly for his tap dancing ability. He began tap dancing at the age of four.

Early Years:

Samuel (Sammy) Davis, Jr. was born in Harlem, New York on December 8, 1925. His father, Sammy Davis, Sr, and mother, Elvera Sanchez, were both vaudeville dancers. Sammy was raised by his paternal grandmother. When he was three years old, his parents split up. Sammy Davis, Sr. took custody of his son and took him along on tour.Sammy learned how to dance from his father and his uncle, Will Mastin. At the age of four, Sammy joined his father and uncle in an act, “Will Mastin’s Gang, featuring Little Sammy.” Later the three became known as the “Will Mastin Trio.”

Racial Prejudice:

Sammy served in the United States Army during World War II, but was confronted by strong racial prejudice. This racial prejudice continued throughout his career, but he learned that being in the spotlight removed some of the prejudice. He once said, “My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man’s thinking.”After his years in the army, Sammy started to achieve success with his career as an entertainer. In 1959, he became a member of the “Rat Pack” led by Frank Sinatra, and included performers such as Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine.

Success:

Sammy’s career took off in the mid 1950s. He appeared on Broadway in 1956 in Mr. Wonderful, a big success. He also made appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. He then starred in two dramas of Anna Lucasta (1958) and A Man Called Adam (1966). He appeared again on Broadway 1964 in Golden Boy. In 1972 Davis made a No. 1 hit on the Top 40 charts with “Candy Man.” Sammy also enjoyed television and occasionally landed television roles, including appearances on the hit series, “All in the Family.”

Car Accident:

Sammy almost died in a car accident in 1954 in California. He was returning to Las Angeles from a trip to Las Vegas. He lost his left eye in the accident, forcing him to wear an eye patch for several months. He was later fitted for a glass eye, which he wore for the rest of his life.While in the hospital after the accident, a friend shared with him the similarities between the Jewish and black cultures. Davis converted to Judaism after reading Paul Johnson’s “A History of the Jews” while in the hospital.

Marriage:

Sammy married his first wife, Loray White, in 1958, but the two divorced the following year. In 1960, he caused controversy when he married May Britt, a white actress. (He received hate mail while starring in Golden Boy.) The couple had one daughter and adopted two sons. The couple divorced in 1968, upon Sammy admitting to having had an affair with singer Lola Falana.Soon after his second divorce, sammy started dating Altovise Gore, a dancer in “Golden Boy.” They were married by Jesse Jackson. They adopted one child, and remained married until Sammy died in 1990.

Later Life and Death:

Sammy performed well into the 1980s, but his health declined due to heavy drinking and drug use. He performed in two films with Dean Martin and also in the movie “Tap” with Gregory Hines. He then traveled on tour with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.Sammy was diagnosed with throat cancer but refused to have surgery, which could have saved his life. Davis told doctors that he would rather keep his voice than have a part of his throat removed. He died in 1990.

. Fred Astaire (1899-1987)

Fred AstaireFlickr user EmMe09
Fred Astaire was a famous American film and Broadway dancer. He is well-known for starring with Ginger Rogers in musical films.

Fred Astaire was born in Omaha, Nebraska on May 10, 1899. The son of Johanna “Ann” and Frederic “Fritz” Austerlitz, Astaire began dancing at the age of four. He formed an act with his sister, Adele, that became popular at the time. Their first act was called “Juvenile Artists Presenting an Electric Musical Toe-Dancing Novelty.” Astaire wore a top hat in the first half and a lobster outfit in the second. Following their debut performance, the local paper wrote, “the Astaires are the greatest child act in vaudeville.” Adele eventually married, leaving Astaire to begin his solo career.

Partnership With Ginger Rogers:

In 1933, Astaire was paired with Ginger Rogers. They were an instant sensation and were featured together in a classic series of films including The Gay Divorcee, Top Hat, and Swing Time. Astaire’s partnership with Rogers had a special chemistry. It has been said that he gave her class and she gave him sex appeal. Their dance routines were complicated tap or graceful ballroom routines that portrayed romance. However, only once did the couple share an on-screen kiss.

Influence on Dance:

Fred Astaire is regarded as a pioneer in the serious presentation of dance on film. Although his dancing appeared relaxed and effortless, he actually worked incredibly hard, rehearsing for hours at a time. Several of his dance routines became famous, including the slow-motion dance in Easter Parade, the dance with empty shoes in The Barkleys of Broadway, the ceiling dance and the duet with a hat rack in Royal Wedding, and the dance on air in The Belle of New York.

Personal Life:

Astaire married New York socialite Phyllis Potter in 1933. The two were happily married for 21 years, until Potter died of lung cancer at the age of 46, leaving Astaire devastated. He wanted to drop out of his current project, Daddy Long Legs, but he decided to continue with the picture to distract him from his grief.Astaire was a golf and horse-racing enthusiast, remaining physically active into his eighties. He married Robyn Smith in 1980, an actress turned champion jockey.

Astaire died on June 22, 1987, at the age of 88. One of his last requests was to thank his fans for their many years of support.

Gregory Hines (1946-2003)

Gregory HinesSebastian Artz / Getty Images
Gregory Hines was an American dancer mostly known for his outstanding tap dancing abilities. He appeared in several dance movies, including White Nights and Tap.

Gregory began dancing as a toddler. When he was only 2, his father placed him in a dance act with his older brothers. At the age of 5, he began to tour with his brother, Maurice. They were known as the Hines Kids and performed together for several years. When they became adolescents, the brothers joined their father and became known as Hines, Hines and Dad. The threesome toured nightclubs together and even appeared on television.

Broadway Career:

In 1973, Tony headed for New York and launched a successful broadway career. Gregory proved to have an incredible talent for tap dancing. He was nominated for Tony Awards three years in a row for various starring roles. In 1993 he received the Best Actor Tony Award for his starring role in Jelly’s Last Jam.

Film Career:

Gregory followed his success on Broadway with several non-dancing roles in film. He starred in many well-known movies, including Renaissance Man, Waiting to Exhale,and The Preacher’s Wife. His famous dancing roles included starring with Mikhael Baryshnikov in the spy thriller White Nights,and starring in the great dance movie, Tap.

Death:

Gregory died of liver cancer in 2003, at the young age of 57. He had kept the disease to himself, so his untimely death came as quite a shock. As a tribute to Gregory, the lights of Broadway were dimmed in his honor for three days following his death.

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. Gene Kelly (1912-1996)

Gene KellyFlickr user EmMe09
An American dancer, Gene Kelly is remembered for his highly energetic and athletic dancing style. He is well-known for his performance in Singin’ in the Rain.

Eugene (Gene) Kelly was born on August 23, 1912 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father was James Kelly, a phonograph salesman who made only a modest living for his family. His mother, Harriet Curran, introduced Gene and his four siblings to the arts. When Gene was eight years old, the Kelly children, Jay, Jim, Gene, Louise, and Fred were performing dance routines at amateur vaudeville nights. They were known as “The Five Kellys.” Interestingly, Gene preferred sports to dancing and aspired to play professional baseball. However, he realized that girls liked boys who could dance so he began to enjoy it.

College and Dance:

Gene enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh in 1931 to study economics, earning his degree in 1933. During the same time, his family opened a dance school, “The Gene Kelly Studio of the Dance.” Gene so enjoyed teaching at the studio that he decided to pursue a career as a dance teacher and entertainer full-time. In 1937, he moved to New York City to find work as a choreographer.

Dancing on Broadway:

Gene’s first job on Broadway was as a dancer in “Leave It to Me,” but is considered today as the debut of Mary Martin, not of Gene. His next role was in “One for the Money,” which was slightly larger. A big break came next for Gene when he starred as Harry the Hoofer in “The Time of Your Life,” a play that won the Drama Critic’s Award that year. It was the first time on Broadway that Gene danced to his own choreography. Around the same time Gene met his future wife, Betsy Blair. They were married on October 16, 1941.

On to Hollywood:

Gene’s Hollywood debut was a role in “For Me and My Gal” with Judy Garland. He quickly learned that dancing on film was much different than dancing live on stage. The film was a success, and Gene credited Judy with teaching him about the movies.His next role was the male lead in “Du Barry Was a Lady,” opposite Lucille Ball. He got the opportunity to dance to his own choreography in his next picture, “Thousands Cheer,” where he performed a romantic dance with a household mop. His breakthrough as a dancer on film arrived when he played opposite Rita Hayworth in “Cover Girl,” in which he danced to his own reflection.

Singin’ in the Rain:

After joining the army for a time during World War II, Gene completed several successful movies. Possibly his most memorable role was “Singin’ in the Rain.” A bit overshadowed by “An American in Paris” at the time, it has since become one of America’s most popular musicals.

String of Bad Luck:

Probably a costly mistake, Gene signed a contract with MGM that sent him to Europe for eighteen months. Unfortunately, he was cast in a series of unsuccessful dramatic roles. Gene then watched a number of his personal relationships fail. First, he split from longtime friend and partner Stanley Donen. Then, in 1957, Gene and Betsy ended their fifteen-year marriage in divorce.

Later Life:

Gene married Jeannie Coyne in 1960, his longtime dance assistant and former student. They had two children together, son Timothy and daughter Bridget. Gene began working on a few different projects at this time, including some directing and television work.Sadly, tragedy struck in 1973 when his wife Jeannie died of cancer. Gene then played the roles of both mother and father to his two young children, refusing any work that took him too far from home.

Death:

The 1970s and 1980s proved to be a turn-around for Gene’s career. “That’s Entertainment!” and “That’s Entertainment! II” were very successful. In 1982, Gene received the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 1985, a lifetime achievement award from the American Film Institute.Gene remarried in 1990, to writer Patricia Ward. He worked diligently on his autobiography during the last few years of his life, but was unable to complete it before his death. Gene died at his home on February 2, 1996 after a series of strokes.